Penguins Remain Atop of Fluid NHL Power Ranking Averages

by Jeff Briggs

The RCS NHL Power Ranking Averages combine five* other sites' power rankings to make the most balanced and unbiased grade possible, and to offer the most accurate look at the state of the NHL on a weekly basis.

UPDATE: SI has now published their rankings and they have been added to the RCS Averages.

The Penguins edged out the Rangers to remain the No. 1 team in the RCS NHL Power Ranking Averages, but that's about the only thing that stayed the same compared to last week's rankings. Five teams fell out of the top ten as multiple teams moved several spots up or down the rankings.

Ten teams moved at least five spots up or down from last week. The team moving up the most spots this week is the Phoenix Coyotes, who rose from No. 16 up to No. 5. Slipping the most spots this week are the LA Kings, who fell from 5th all the way down to 19th.

With the season still early, and the various ranking sites having different methodology, there are quite a few large discrepancies within the rankings. Two examples: the Thrashers are ranked as high as 5th and as low as 19th; and the Sharks rankings range from second to 18th.

One thing that is consistent in the rankings, the Maple Leafs are unanimously ranked dead last for the second week in a row.

*SI and Yahoo! have yet to come out with their rankings for the week at the time this post was published.